Moscow says Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant must be Russian, but it's open to working there with US

MOSCOW, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Russia is ready for international cooperation over the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, including with the United States, a senior nuclear official was quoted as saying on Thursday.

But the facility must be Russian, said Alexei Likhachev, head of the state nuclear corporation Rosatom.

Russian forces have controlled the plant in southern Ukraine since shortly after the start of the war in 2022. Its fate is one of the points of contention between Russia and Ukraine in peace talks mediated by the United States.

The six reactors are not in operation, and the plant relies on external power to keep its nuclear material cool and prevent a catastrophic accident.